Chapter 34

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: Golems in the Sleeping Forest

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The insight from Insight Eye flooded in with a massive wall of information.

As if warning Kang Seol that this was an extremely dangerous situation.

A secret Grizz laboratory hidden near Nobira. In its deepest chamber lay a biological research facility created to solve the continent's food crisis. But trouble had arisen in this place teeming with robust plants.

Plants that began growing far beyond the limits Grizz had set. The central control unit was now overrun by them, failing to function properly. The plants were taking over the researchers as if they possessed intelligence, growing endlessly.

If this growth continued unchecked, these entities could spread to the Great Forest, unleashing a horrific disaster.

Basic Abilities: [Vine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Whip 1], [Unstable Spores 1], [Entangling Swallow 1], [Enchanting Pollen 1], [Corrosive Sap 1], [Rapid Growth 1]

Special Ability: [Hivemind 1]

'I see...'

What caught Kang Seol's eye more than anything was the monster's special ability.

'Hivemind must have swallowed up the researcher golems here.'

Plants or insects, and so on.

Control-type monsters often used abilities to dominate others. These powers extended beyond objects to players themselves.

'A solo adventure with this difficulty... I've really stepped in it.'

Even if a five-man party had come instead of him, the situation wouldn't have been any more pleasant.

"The entire research facility has turned hostile."

"It appears so, Master."

Karuna replied from beside him.

This time, Jamad turned to Arta, who had led them here without any explanation.

"Why didn't you say anything? Did you trick us?"

"No, that's not it. I only just learned of this myself."

"How...? Wait, don't tell me?"

Kang Seol and his summons recalled their first meeting with Arta.

This pitiful golem had been tightly bound by vines in the second lab, barely able to move.

Kang Seol realized he had fled to the second lab when he could no longer control the plants here.

Whip!

Boom!

"Urgh..."

Jamad blocked a vine attack but was pushed back slidingly.

It was impressive that even after taking a hit from such a massive vine, Jamad's damage was that minimal.

"There seems to be an error in the storage device. I'll retrieve what happened here."

"Arta! Hurry!"

Vwooom...

Whip!

Another vine came flying. The narrow entrance made defense somewhat easier, but they still struggled.

Slash!

Karuna's Moonlight Sword somehow struck back at the vine.

"Kieeeek!"

A scream echoed from the distant central control unit. That seemed to be where the vine's master resided.

'No, the enemy isn't just one.'

The entire research complex was the enemy. And,

"Master."

"...I see it."

Sizzle...

The vine Karuna had severed was slowly regenerating.

The viewers were in an uproar, sharing exactly the same frustration as Kang Seol right now.

But the difference was that Kang Seol was at least pondering a solution.

'It doesn't make sense for a solo adventure to require clearing this alone, especially this early. There has to be a way.'

Mid-to-late game might have variables, but getting caught in something this deadly early on meant no chance of survival.

As Kang Seol racked his brain, he latched onto one nagging word.

'Wait, solo... alone?'

If he couldn't solve it alone, he just needed help. And right now, someone who wasn't originally part of his group stood beside him.

"Memory recovery complete. A critical error occurred. Would you like an explanation?"

"We're in a hurry!"

"Understood."

It was Arta, the lab director—a massive, imposing mechanical golem.

While Karuna and Jamad alternated blocking the vines surging at the entrance, Arta quickly summarized the situation.

"Unforeseen hypergrowth symptoms were detected in the plants here. By the time I reported to Master Grizz, the central control unit had been seized, cutting off communication. This bizarre lifeform possesses perfect intelligence but is highly aggressive."

"And the result?"

"The researchers were dominated by the plants' vines in an instant and ceased functioning. I fled to the second lab to avoid danger. That's when I met you."

As the situation grew more urgent, Kang Seol's responses grew shorter.

"Arta."

"Yes."

"Any weaknesses in those things?"

"They retain the standard plant vulnerabilities. Weak to pests and highly susceptible to fire."

"Burning a hivemind that size would take this place down too... So another way..."

"Not at all."

"What?"

"If we can access the central control unit, we can activate the large-scale fire suppression system."

"Sucks up all the smoke?"

"Yes."

In other words, reaching the central control unit would let them torch the whole place at once.

With one issue resolved, Kang Seol thought of the next.

"Arta, can you fight?"

"Offensive actions require Master Grizz's permission, but defense is allowed."

"Then..."

Kang Seol grasped the key and asked,

"What about the dormant golems here?"

"You mean the researchers?"

"Yeah."

"Of course. But even freed from the vines, they've shut down once, so they need the correct answer to Master Grizz's set question to activate."

"Password recovery questions, huh..."

"Pardon? What's that?"

"Nothing. But to reach the central control—or even a nearby golem—we'll need fire..."

"I have spare oil."

"That's a relief."

"Arta, the oil."

"Right away."

Clank.

A compartment on Arta's waist opened.

Kang Seol pulled out two canister-like containers and tossed them to Jamad.

"We need to set your weapons on fire."

Jamad and Karuna's weapons weren't ordinary.

Normal weapons would dull or become unusable if ignited, but theirs would only lose a bit of durability.

"Hoh... I see."

Kang Seol doused Jamad's Mountain Fist and Karuna's Moonlight Sword with oil, then lit them.

Fwoosh...

"Kieee!"

"Its movements slowed. It's scared."

"Push forward! To there!"

Boom!

Vwoooom!

Slash!

Fwoosh!

"Kiaaaah!"

Jamad and Karuna broke forward, matching Kang Seol and Arta's pace.

Vines seemed ready to swarm from all sides, but swinging the flames kept their attacks sparse and ineffective.

For a moment, Kang Seol wondered if they could burn everything like this, but he shook his head.

'Too vast. And once it adapts to the fire, we're done.'

They needed to free the golems fast and reach the central control.

That's when it happened.

Whip!

"Arta!"

A vine shot at Arta from a blind spot.

Jamad and Karuna were tied up with other vines and couldn't help.

Arta looked moments from being smashed.

Bam!

But contrary to Kang Seol's expectations, something surprising occurred. Arta effortlessly swatted the vine away.

"Don't worry about me. Defense is no issue."

Now Kang Seol understood how Arta had escaped alone to the second lab.

If every golem was even half as capable, his army would be unbreakable.

They crushed the vine assaults and reached the nearest golem.

It was slightly smaller than Arta but sturdy-looking, halted while wrapped in vines.

"Jamad!"

"Got it."

The flaming Mountain Fist tore the vines from the golem's body.

Splat!

After a brief messy unraveling, the golem—scratched but intact—stirred.

But it only lifted its head slightly, taking no further action.

Arta spoke upon seeing it.

"As expected, we need the code."

"Where?!"

"Here."

Unlike the calm Arta, Kang Seol shouted urgently.

Arta pointed to the input panel on the golem's leg.

Kang Seol's face twisted in disbelief at the question displayed.

"...What kind of question is this crap?"

Choices appeared.

The answer was obviously predetermined.

Kang Seol punched in 4 on the panel.

'Grizz is a vicious narcissist.'

He saw himself as the most perfect being.

'Please activate.'

Whirr...

Blue light suddenly poured from the golem's eyes, which had been still moments ago.

"Greetings, human. I am researcher Alber-23. How may I assist?"

Arta took control of Alber, who promptly joined the group to defend against vines.

Whip!

Thwack!

With two large golems ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on defense, it was easier than before, but the monster seemed to be adapting to the flaming weapons—the number of attacking vines was increasing.

'This is like capture the flag... no, full-on war.'

They had to recruit as many golems as possible before it was too late and reach the central control.

The party pressed on relentlessly.

Freeing golems sped up. All the input questions were Grizz-related anyway.

"Charge!"

"Poison sap! Block it!"

A massive flower spewed venom at Kang Seol.

The liquid flew like arrows.

Sizzle...

To cut it short, the poison never reached Kang Seol.

"Are you alright, sir?"

"...Thanks."

"I'll guide you to the central control unit."

One of the golems had sacrificed an arm to shield him.

Their numbers kept swelling.

Heading toward the research complex's heart, they advanced like an icebreaker slicing through glaciers.

It started small, but now their momentum was terrifying.

"Almost there."

The central control unit was now in sight.

But then.

"Hey, danger!"

With Jamad's shout, massive flowers suddenly burst from near the central control unit in droves.